Page 36 - BEC / DEC / 2021

faceted company creating economic growth within

the Simpcw Territory.

INDIGENOUS INITIAL

ATTACK INITIATIVE

Simpcw First Nation felt the impact of the 2021

wildfires and reacted by creating the Indigenous
Initial Attack (IIA) initiative. This initiative fills a gap

due to the lack of resources and personnel ready

to respond to new wildfires within the Simpcw
Territory. BC Wildfire Service signed a seasonal pilot

project agreement with Simpcw First Nation’s Chu
Chua Volunteer Fire Department (CCVFD), which

allows the IIA crew to be dispatched directly from

the Fire Center and respond quickly to any new fire
within the Simpcw territory. The service area is a

100-to-150-kilometer radius within the home base

of Chu Chua, keeping the crew always close to the
community to protect the local resources.

Fire Chief Ron Lampreau Jr., alongside Deputy Fire
Chief Melanie Stutt, started assembling the IIA

specialized fire fighting crew. The crew is made up
of a crew boss and three crew members, all of whom

are Simpcw Band members. from the Chu Chua

Volunteer Fire Department. The crew boss has an
extensive background in the forestry sector, making

them an invaluable asset with their knowledge
of the woodland traditional sector. All members

possess local knowledge of the land, water sources,

cultural deposits, medicine, contractors, and service
roads, which serve to enhance their ability to access

and fight fires.

36 DEC 2021 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA